Exterior paint scope guide · Prep and wood repair
Exterior paint prep in a quote: scraping, priming, caulking, and wood repair
Prep work is the part of an outside paint job you cannot see once the topcoat dries, and it is the main reason two bids on the same house land far apart. A person at finalist.cc reads your exterior paint quote against these prep items, or writes a scoping document before you ask painters to bid.
1. Washing and drying window
Dirt, chalked pigment, and mildew keep new paint from bonding. A quote should state whether the house is washed with a mild cleaner or mildewcide, rinsed, and allowed to dry before scraping and priming begin.
2. Scraping vs feather-sanding
"Scrape loose paint" means knocking off flakes that come off with a hand scraper, which leaves sharp ridges around every peeled patch. Feather-sanding those edges smooth takes extra labor and should be named if you want smooth siding and trim.
3. Spot priming vs full prime coat
Spot priming covers only bare wood, knots, and patched areas. A full prime coat covers the entire wall or trim run, which is needed over heavy chalking, bare weathered siding, or dramatic color changes. Check which one your bid prices.
4. Caulking joints vs Lap Siding Bottoms
Vertical joints at window casings, door trim, and corner boards get sealed with flexible exterior caulk. The horizontal bottom overlap of clapboard or fiber-cement lap siding is left uncaulked so trapped moisture can drain and breathe.
How rotten boards are priced: Few painters can tell from the ground how much soft wood sits behind peeling fascia or window sills. Check whether the bid includes a set number of linear feet of wood replacement, prices carpenter repairs as a separate per-board allowance, or excludes carpentry altogether. No contractor list here: we do not send your request, your quote or your details to contractors.
Related guides: Siding materials (wood, fiber cement, stucco, brick) · Spray and backroll vs brush and roll · Interactive exterior scope checklist
Send this checklist for a scoping document
This form goes to the same desk as finalist.cc. Use it if you have no quote yet. Have a quote already? Send it on finalist.cc for a benchmark note instead.
What happens next
- Your checklist and notes go to finalist.cc, which we run.
- A person reads them and replies by email with a scoping document, or with questions first. If photos would help, the reply asks for them.
- You send the scoping document to painters you choose. We do not send your request or your details to contractors.
Who you’re writing to
finalist.cc, which we run. We are not a painting contractor and don’t do the work. A painter you hire is a separate business, and your contract is with that painter.